Feeding and spacing mechanism



Sept. 20, 1932 A. E.` MILBRATH FEEDING AND sPAcING MEcHANsM Filed Oct. 31, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INvE/vroR ALFRED E,MILBRATH ww@ ,fwd Uhm-u Sept. 20, 1932.

A. E MILBRATH- FEEDING AND SPACING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3l, 1950 4 Sheets--Shee'c 2 Sept. 20, 1932. l A. E. MILBRATH 1,877,934

FEEDING AND SPACING' MECHANISM Filed Oct. 3l, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ALFRED E MILBRATH A T VORNE YS SePt- 20, 1932 A. E. MILBRATH FEEDING AND SPACING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 51, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Supply Circuit:

INVENTOR ALFRED E. MILBRATH ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 'ALFRED E. MILBRATH, oF ELLWoon. CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR 'ro' MATER-ws eoNvEYnR COMPANY, yor ELLwooIJ CITY,

PENNSYLVANIA t FFEDING( AND srAcINe' iuncHANIsNrl Y Application mea otober 31, 1930. serial No. 492,448.

VThis invention relates to new and useful improvements in conveying; apparatus and more particularly to a feedingand spacing mechanism adapted for use to automatically feed commodities of different sizes onto `a suitable receiving means such, for example, as an elevator, conveyer, or other apparatus.

An obj ect of the invention is to provide an improved feeding and spacing` mechanism capable of handling` articles. orycommodities of different sizes'anddelivering them, one at a time, and in spaced relation, to a suitable receiving means. n

jA further object is tol provide 'a spacing mechanism including a conveyer section adapted for up-and-down movement, andk having a stop means situated at the discharge end thereof adapted to retain arcommodity upon said movable section, when .the latter` is in a lowered position, said kstop means being adapted to be rendered inoperative when the movable sectiony is elevated to loadfdischarging position, whereby the commodity positioned thereon may pass over said stop means and onto a suitable receiving means.

A further object is to provide-a feeding and spacing mechanism including a conveyery section adapted for up-and-down movement, and provided at its discharge end with a permanently located stop means adapted to be engaged by a commodity delivered onto said section and to retain it thereon until rthe section has been elevated to a load-discharging position, whereupon the commodity may pass over said stop means and onto a suitable receiving means and an auxiliary stopmember being situated between the opposite yends of said movable conveyer section andprovided with means for moving it into and out of the path of commodities delivered onto said movable section, whereby commodities may be delivered onto said section, one at a time,

regardless of size, and means forindependv ently actuating said auxiliary stop member.

A further object is to provide a feeding and spacing mechanisml for feeding articles onto asuitable receiving means inspaced relation, comprising a .conveyer section adapted for upand-.down movement, and provided 'at 'its discharge endrwith a'p'ermanently. lo-

PENN SYLVANIA, .A iCORIOVRATION' OF cated stop lmeans adapted to be engaged by i and retain a commodity upon said section, ,when the latter is in load-receiving position, said stop means being adapted to be rendered inoperative when the movable sectionis ele- I" vated to load-discharging position, and during which movement the receiving endl of said section will be disposed in the path of a following 'or approaching commodity and temporarily interrupt its movement, the com,- modity being' engaged with the receiving end of said movable section being adaptedto move onto said section when the latter returnsv to'- its loadfreceiving position, vand Va plurality of auxiliary` stop kmembers being situated intermediatelyiof the ends ofsaid movable section and .provided with means whereby they may be operated independently of oneanother, said auxiliarystop members functioning to limit the number of articles delivered vonto said movable section, and wherebythe feeding and spacing mechanism may be usedfor handling commodities off'different sizes. y 1 i v EOther objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings andwill bepointed out in the annexed claims.

-. In the accompanying drawings, therehas Ybeen disclosed a structure designed to carry out `thevarious objects of the invention, but it is tobe understoodthat the invention is not `confined to the exactfeatures shown as various-changes may be made within the scope Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 l Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.;

Figure 4 ing thev mechanism adapted for handling comparatively large commodities and showing ythe movable section in load-receivingI position Figure 5 lis a view similar toy but is a diagrammaticv view illustrat.-

illustrating the movable section in an elevated or load-discharging position;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating one of the auxiliary stop members positioned to be engaged by a commodity of relatively-smaller dimensions than those of the commodity shown in Figures 4 and 5; Y

Figure 7 is a view illustrating the movable section elevated to load-discharging position, and a following commodity engaged with the receiving end thereof;

Figure 8 is a similar view showing thev lBrackets 5 are secured to the'bottoms of the side rails 4 and each is provided with an antifriction roller 6 adapted to travel in suitable guides 10, shown secured to the upper rails 12 of a frame 13 mounted upon a suitable 'floor or foundation as shown in Figure 1. The means for actuating the movable section 2 comprises a plurality of cams 7 secured to cross shafts 8, operatively connected together by suitable gears 9. These cams engage the bottoms of the side rails 4, as best shown in Figure 3. The shafts 8 are supported in bearings 11 shown secured to the rails 12 of the frame 13.

In the present instance, the shafts 8 are adapted for continuous rotation by means of a chain-and-sprocket drive 14 operatively connecting them with a drive shaft 15 suitably mounted upon the frame 13. The drive shaft l5 is shown provided with a pulley 16 which may be connected with a suitable source of power such'as a motor, not shown.

In the drawings, the feeding and spacing mechanism is shown adapted to deliver' commodities to a conveyor 17, diagrammatically illustrated to Figures 1, and'4 to 9, inclusive. The receiving means shown forms no part of the present invention, and it is to be understood that the feeding and spacing mechanism herein disclosed may be used in connection with various other forms and types of apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention.

A conveyer 18, preferably of the gravity type, including a plurality of anti-friction rollers 19, is shown arranged to deliver the commodities to the movable conveyer section 2. One end of the conveyer 18 may be supported directly upon the frame 13 while the other end thereof may be borne by a suitable support, not shown.

At the discharge end of the movable section 2, there is provided a comparatively short conveyer section 21 arrangedat an elevation above the delivery conveyer 18, and normally positioned above the conveyer section 2, when the latter is in receiving position as indicated by the full lines in Figure 1. By reason of the conveyer section 21 being situated at an elevation above the elevation of the movable section 2, when the latter is in receiving position, commodities delivered onto the movable section will engage the roller 22 of the conveyer section 21, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1,`and full lines in Figure 4, whereupon the commodity A will come to rest upon the section 2. When the section 2 is elevated by the action of the cams 7 to the dotted line position, shown in Figure 1 and full line position shown in Figure 5, the forward end of the commodity A will move out of engagement with the roller 22, whereupon said commodity will be discharged from the movable section 2 onto the fixed section 21, from which it is delivered onto the conveyer 17. The conveyer 17 is here shown as being driven from the drive shaft 15 by means of a chain-and-sprocket drive 23. i

When the movable section 2 moves from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shown in Figure 5, the next following commodity B which may be engaged with the rear end of Vthe commodity A as shown 1n Figure 4, will Vbe temporarily held against movement because of its engagement with the rear end of the commodity A` and when the latter is being discharged from the movable section 2, as indicated in Figure 5, the next following commodity B will engage the end of the movable section 2, as indicated in Figure 5, whereby it will be held against further move- `ment until the section 2 returns to its lowermost position in alinement with the conveyer 18, whereupon the commodity B will move forwardly onto the movable section 2, into engagement with the stop roller 22. `When the movable section is operated-continuously, th-e commodities will be delivered onto the receiving conveyer 17 in uniformly spaced relation provided, of course, that the commodities are supplied to the movable section 2 so that the latter will receive a commodity each time it reaches its load-receiving position.

The mechanism above described is suitable for handling comparatively long commodities, the overall lengths-of which arel substantially the same or greater than the overall length of the movable section 2, so that but a single commodity can be delivered onto the section 2 at a time. In some cases, however, the commodities to be delivered to the receiv- .ico

ling means may vary in length, and it is therefore desirable that the'feeding andspacing 'mechanism be Vadapted for handlingv commodities which thus vary in length. f

To render the mechanism capable of han- -dling `commodities of different lengths, a -plurality of auxiliary stop members V24 and 25v are located between the endsof the 'movable section 2, as shown in Figure 1, and so that they may be moved upwardly intothe path of commodities delivered onto the movable section 2, when the latter is in load-re- `ceiving position. Figures 6v to 9, inclusive,

f stop member v In Figure illustrate 'how Vthe auxiliary stopmembers 24 and 25 are utilized, when the mechanism is to be used for handling commodities of variant lengths, and whereby thecommodities, regardless of lengths, may be delivered onto thereceiving means in spaced relation.

l As shown Vin Figure 1, Vthe auxiliary stop member 24 'consists of a plate having its flower end pivotally supported upon a rod 26 secured to a pair of arms 27 suitably secured toa rock shaft 28 having an arm 29 connected by'a rod 31 to a lever 32, pivotally mounted upon a bracket 33 secured to one of :thefside rails of the delivery conveyer 18.

Oscillation of the lever 32 will actuate'the A 24 and move it into and out of voperative position in the path kof the approaching commodities. Y

rlhe stop member consists of a similar plate having its lowerend pivotally connectedwith a similar cross rod 26 supported in similar arms 27 which also are securedfto a cross shaft 28'having an arm 29 secured thereto. The 'lower end of the arm 29 of the stop member 25 is pivotally connected with 'one end of a connecting rod 34, the opposite end of which is connected to a lever 435, pivotally supported upon a bracket 36, here shownsecured to the opposite side rail ofthe conveyer section 18. Suitable eye-bolts 37 may be provided for locking the levers 32 and in their adjusted positions.` /These 'eye-bolts are adapted to be receivedin apertures 33 and 39 pro-vided in the levers 32 and 35, and brackets 33 and 36, respectively, to lock the levers in their adjusted positions. 1, the stop member 24 is shown moved into operative position to be engaged by acommodity as shown in Figure 6; The auxiliary stop members 24 and 25 are movable Vbetween suitable guides 20, shown in -f 'Figures 1, 2, and 3.

In the operation of this novel feeding and spacing mechanism, and when handling relativelylong commodities, the leading commodity, indicated by the numeral A in Figf ure 4, is delivered onto the movable conveyer section 2, as shown in Figure 4, and will temporarily lcome to rest thereon when its forward end engages the roller 22 of the .conveyer section 21. The next following indicated by the nume-ral Bf,

will engage the tailend of the commodity A, whereupon it, too, will betemporarily held against further forwardv movement.4 When thepmovable section 2.is elevated toits loaddis'charging' position, as shown in Figure 5, the commodity A will travel bygravity over the conveyer section 21 and ontothe receiving jconveyer 17. In the meantime,:the folowing commodity 'B will be heldv against forward movement because of its Vleading end k engaging the end of the conveyorV sectionv 2, as sh'ownin Figure 5. n

The cams 7 areshaped so as to temporarily hold the movable conveye'r section 2in alinement with the section 21 soas to allow the commodity ample time `to traveltherefrom over thev conveyer 'section 21; forwdelivery onto the receiving conveyer 17 before the section 2 isreturned Ito its loading position. In like manner, the conveyer section2V is yadapted to be momentarily held in alinement with 4the deliveryj conveyer 1,8, when t-reaches the bottom ofits movement, so as to allow ample timef for the commodity to travel by gravityfremthe conveyer 18 onto l.

"ein

such smaller commodities, the stop member 24 isA moved upwardly by manipulation ofthe hand lever 32,s`o that when the commodity A is Adelivered onto the movable section 2, .it

willengage the stopv member 24 andvbe held .against further forward movement. l/Vhen the movable section 2 is movedV upwardly to the position 'shown in Figurel', andthe upper portions. of the peripheries of 'its 'rollers A3, reachV an elevation above the top edge kof the stop member 24', the-commodityA supported upon the movable'section 2, mayl -travel by .gravity therefrom onto and over the conveyer section21, and ontothe receiving `conveyer 17. VThe following commodity B will be prevented from advancing onto the movable section 2 because of its engagement with the end lof the section 2, as shown in Figure 7. -f 'If still smaller-commodities are to be handled, the stop member 25 may be Abrought into operative position by manipulation of the hand lever 35, whereupon the commodity A vwill engage 'it,cwhen the movable section is in its lowermost position, therebylcausing its vforward movement to be interrupted, as

TIB

modity A, as shown Vin Figure 8. Upward movement of the movable section 2 will cause the commodity A to be moved out of engagement with the stop member 25, whereby it may travel by gravity over the fixed section 2l and onto the receiving conveyer 17. During such movement of the movable section 2, the following commodity B will be held back because of being. engaged with the end of the movable section 2, as shown in Figure 9.

It will thus be seen that by the employment of the auxiliary stop members 24 and 25, the feeding and spacing mechanism herein disclosed may be used for handling various different sizes of commodities. The operation of the auxiliary stop members 24 and 25 may be manually controlled by the levers 32 and 35.- In the drawings, I have shown these levers positioned at opposite sides of the yconveyer 18, but it is to be understood that they may be located at any convenient point, and in close proximity, if desired, so that an operator stationed remotely from the movable conveyer section 2 may conveniently control the operations of the stop members 24 and 25.

In Figures 10 and 11, there is shown a modified construction wherein the stop members 24 and 25 are adapted to be actuated by a pair of solenoids 41 and 42, respectively, having connections 43 connecting them therewith. When these solenoi ds are energized, the stop members are moved upwardly into the paths of the commodities, and when deenergized, drop by gravity back to their normal inoperative positions.

Each solenoid is provided with an independent control circuit such as illustrated in vFigure 11, and as these circuits are similar in construction and operation, but one is shown and described. The circuit shown is that of the stop member 24. The solenoid 41 has a wire 44 connecting one end thereof with a movable contact 45 which is adapted to engage a fixed contact 46 connected to the conductor 47 of a suitable supply circuit, the other side of which is composed of the conductor 48. The other end of the winding of the solenoid 41 has a wire 49 connecting it with a movable contact 51 adapted to engage a fixed contact 52 connected with the conductor 48 of the supply circuit. The movable contacts 45 and 51 and fixed contacts 46 and 52 constitute a switch for controlling the operation of the solenoid 41. lVhen the switch is closed, the solenoid 41 will become energized, causing the stop member 24 to be moved upwardly to the position shown in Figure 10. When the switch is opened, the solenoid 41 will become deenergized, whereupon the stop member 24 may drop by gravity to its inoperative position, shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Electrical means is shown provided for operating the movable switch contacts 45 and 51 and consists of a winding 53 having an armature'54 movably mounted therein, one end of which is connected with the movable switch contacts 45 and 51. A third contact 55 is connected with the armature 54 and has a wire 56 connecting it with the wire 44 and61, the switch 59 being normally closed j and lthe. switch 61 being normally open, as shown in Figure 11. The switch 59 has a wire 62 connecting it with the fixed contact 46, and the switch'61 has a wire 63 connecting one side thereof with one side of the v winding 53, the opposite end of which has a wire 64 connecting it with the fixed contact 52.

In the drawings, the wiring diagram is shown with the contacts45, 51 and 55 out of electrical connection with their respective fixed contacts 46, 52 and 55, at which time the solenoid 41 and winding 53 will be deenergized. When it is desired to move the auxiliary stop member 24 into its elevated or operative position, as shown in Figure 10, the operator will close the switch 59, whereupon current will be supplied to thewinding 53, causing the armature 54 to be actuated to move the contacts 45, 51, and 55 into electrical connection with their respective contacts 46, 52, and 57, therebycausing the solenoid 4l to become energized, with the result that the stop member 24 is moved upwardly into operative position in the path of an approaching commodity. The circuit through the winding 53 is asfollows: from the fixed contact 46 through the wire 62, switch 59, wire 65, switch 61,l wire 63, winding 53, and wire 64, which is connected with the fixed contact 52. The contacts 46 and 52 are connected directly with the main line conductors 47 and 48, respectively, as hereinbefore stated, whereby the circuit is completed.

When it is desired to render the stop member 24 inoperative, the operator will actuate the switch 61, which normally is closed, causing it to break the circuit to the winding 53, whereon the armature 54 will return to its normal position, indicated in Figure 11, by suitable means such as a spring or by gravity. Such action of the armature 54 will cause the switch contacts 45 and 51 to be moved out of electrical engagementwith their corresponding contacts 46 and 52, resulting in the solenoid 41 becoming deenergized, whereupon the stop member 24 will move to its inoperative position, shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The novel feeding and spacing mechanism featured in this invention provides a very practical apparatus for feeding commodities to receiving means in spaced relation. By the employment of the auxiliary stop members 24 and 25, the apparatus is adapted for The movable con- '4 handling commodities which may vary greatly in length; When' the auxiliary stop members 24 and 25 are not being utilized", the apparatus may be used for feedingv relatively large 'commodities to a receiving means, one at a time, and in spaced relation. If thecommodities are of a dimension `substantially equal to one-half the lengt-hof the movable section 2, the commodities may be delivered onto the receiving means in pairs, as two commodities may then be'received and retained upon the movable section and-'delivered onto the receiving means without interfering. *withA following commodities. l*This also applies to smaller commoditiesbeing handled when the auxiliary stop members 24 and 25 are used,

it being understood that the commodities delivered ontothe movable section 2, whether singly or in pairs,

length preferably kslightly greater'than the overall length ofthe movable section 2, so`

l operating said auxiliary that the leading end of the neXt following commodity will not overhang the movable section 2. r v ln the drawings, I have shown the movable section 2adapted for continuous operation by means of suitable cams. It is to be understood that other mechanism may be employed for actuating this movable section without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

I claim asmy invention: i i Vl. ln an apparatus of the class described, a conveyor sectioniadapted for up-and-down movement, av stop means at the discharge end of said movable section adaptedto' be engaged by and temporarily retain a commodity upon said section, when the. latter 'is in a lowered position, andan auxiliarystop member situated intermediately of the ends of said movable section. andv adapted to be moved into the path of commodities delivered thereto to limit the number of commodities fed onto said movable section, and means for stop member.

2. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyor section adapted for up-and-down movement, means for feeding commodities onto said movable section, a stop means at the discharge end of said section adapted to be engaged by and retain a commodity upon said section, when the latter is in a lowered position, said stop means being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated, whereby a commodity positioned thereon may be discharged from said section, and means situated between the ends of said movable section adapted to be moved intoV the path of commodities delivered thereto to limit the number of articles which may be delivered onto said movable section, when the latter is in load-receiving position.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a conveyor section adapted for up-and-down movement, means for must have anI overall` feeding commodities vonto said movable section, a xed stop means at the discharge end of said section adapted to temporarily retain a commodity upon said section, when the latter is in load-receiving position, said stop means being rendered vinoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated, whereby a commodity positioned on said section may be discharged therefrom, a plurality of auxiliary stop members situated between the receiving and discharge ends of said movable section and adapted to be moved intothe path of commodities delivered thereonto, and means for independently actuating saidauxiliary stop members. 1

p4. ln anapparatusof the class described, the combination of a conveyor section mounted for 'up-and-down movement, means for feeding commodities lonto tion, a stop means at the discharge end of said movable section adapted to be engaged by and'retain a commodity upon saidV section, when the latter 4is in a lowered position, said stopY means being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated, whereby acommodity positioned on said section may bedischarged therefrom, a

- plurality of spaced-apart auxiliary stop memvfixed stop means at the discharge end of said movable section ladapted to be engaged by and retain a commodity 'upon' 'said section, when thelatter isy in a lowered position, said'stop means 'being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated', whereby a commodity positioned on ysaid section'may be discharged therefrom', av plurality of auxiliary stop members situated between the receiving and discharge ends of relation, means f or independently actuating said auxiliary stop members whereby they mayy be selectively moved into and-wout of the pathof commodities delivered onto said said movable section and arranged in spaced ,115

movable section adapted to be engaged by and retain a commodity upon said section when the latter` is in a lowered position, said stop means being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated to a load-discharging position, whereby a commodity supported on said section is delivered onto the receiving means, the receiving end of said movable section moving upwardly into the path of a following commodity and preventing it from moving onto said movable section while the latter is being elevated to discharge its load, and plurality of auxiliary stop members situated intermediately of the ends of said movable section and provided with means for independently moving them into and out of operative positions in the path of commodities delivered onto said movable section, said auxiliary stop members being adapted to limit the number of commodities delivered onto said section, whereby commodities of varying lengths may be fed onto the receiving means in spaced relation.

7. In a spacing mechanism for feeding commodities onto a receiving means in spaced relation, a vertically movable convey-er section, means for delivering commodities thereto, a stop means at the discharge end of said movable section adapted to be engaged by and temporarily retain a commodity upon said section, when the latter is in load-receiving position, said stop means being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated to a load-discharging position to permit a commodity supported thereon to be fed onto the receiving means, means for preventing a following commodity from being delivered onto said movable section while said section is being elevated to discharge its load, a plurality of spaced-apart auxiliary stop members situated intermediately of the ends of said movable section, and operating mechanism for selec-Y tively and independently moving said auxiliary stop members into and out of operative positions in the path of commodities being de livered to said movable section, whereby commodities of varying lengths may be fed onto said receiving means in uniformly spaced relation. Y

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a conveyer section mounted for up-and-down movement, means for feeding commodities onto said movable section, a stop means at the discharge end of said movable section adapted to be engaged by and temporarily retain a commodity upon said section, when the latter is in load-receiv ing position, said stop being rendered inoperative to stop commodities when the movable section is elevated whereby the commodity positioned thereon may be discharged therefrom onto a suitable receiving means,I

a plurality of auxiliary stop members situated between the ends of said movable section and commodity upon said section when the latter is in load-receiving position, said stop means being rendered inoperative to stop commodi` ties .when the movable section is elevated to a load-discharging position whereby a commodity sup-ported on said section is delivered onto the receiving means, means for impartv mg an up-and-down movement to said sec- Y tion, the receiving end of said movable sectionfunctioning as a stop means for a following commodity while said section is being elevated to load-discharging position, a plurality of auxiliary stop members situated intermediately of the ends of said movable section, a solenoid connected with each auxiliary stop member, a circuit for each solenoid, vand control switches situated remotely from said movable section adapted to be manually ,operated by an attendant, and whereby said auxiliary stop members may be selectively operated to control the feeding of commodities onto a suitable receiving means in uniformly spaced relation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of October, 1930,

ALFRED E. MILBRATH. 

